How to check a medicine's price in Pakistan (MRP explained)
The price to check is the MRP, the maximum retail price printed on the pack. A pharmacy can charge less than it but not more. A verified scan on a pack in DRAP's track and trace system may also show the price on record, which you can compare with the box.
Where to find the MRP
Look near the batch number and expiry date for MRP, M.R.P. or Retail Price, followed by an amount in rupees. It should be printed as part of the pack, in the same style as the batch and expiry. Be wary of a price on a paper sticker placed over the original print, or a printed price that has been scratched or inked out.
Who sets medicine prices
Medicine prices in Pakistan are governed by the federal drug pricing policy, which DRAP administers. Prices of medicines on the national essential medicines list remain controlled by the government. In 2024 the government allowed companies to set the prices of medicines outside that list themselves. Either way, the price printed on the pack is the ceiling at the counter.
Selling by the strip
Many pharmacies sell part of a pack. The fair price is the proportional share of the MRP: if a box of 30 tablets is printed at Rs. 300, one strip of 10 should cost about Rs. 100. Ask to see the box, both for the price and so you can check the batch, expiry and the square code.
If you are overcharged
- Point to the printed priceMost disputes end here.
- Ask for a receiptA receipt showing the amount charged is your evidence.
- ComplainReport overcharging to DRAP through its complaint channels or to your provincial drug control department, with the receipt and a photo of the pack.
When cheap is the warning sign
Counterfeiters compete on price. A deal far below the printed price, especially for expensive imported or injectable medicines and especially from an online or social media seller, deserves suspicion. Scan the pack, compare it with a previous one, and read how to buy medicine online safely.
Shortages and "black" prices
When a medicine is short, some sellers charge above the printed price. Ask your doctor or pharmacist about an equivalent brand with the same active ingredient rather than paying a premium to an unknown seller, which is also where fakes tend to appear.
How to check medicine price in Pakistan in one minute
- Open the price searchGo to our medicine price check, which searches a copy of DRAP's PharmaPrice Index of about 21,900 products.
- Type the brand nameAdd the strength if the brand has several, for example "Augmentin 625".
- Find your pack sizePrices are per pack, such as 10's, 2x10 or 60 ml. Compare the same size.
- Compare with the printed MRPAnd with what you were asked to pay.
For example, Novidat 500 mg tablets in a pack of 10, registration number 011837, appear in the index at Rs. 647.69, effective 23 July 2026. If a pharmacy asked for more than the price printed on that pack, that would be overcharging.
Why the printed price and the index can differ
| Situation | Explanation | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Printed price lower than the index | Your pack was made before the latest price revision | Pay the printed price |
| Printed price higher than the index | The index may not be up to date, or the pack is a different size or strength | Check the pack size; ask the pharmacist |
| Product not in the index | The index lists essential and low-price categories, not every product | The printed price still applies |
| Asked to pay above the printed price | Overcharging | Point to the printed price; complain if needed |
Medicine price increase 2026 Pakistan: what the DRAP index shows
Of the 21,915 entries in our copy of DRAP's price index, 18,312 carry an "effective from" date in 2026, most of them in July (12,398) and August (3,361). In other words, the listed prices of most products in the index were set or revised during 2026. Check the date beside your product in the price search.
Searches for "medicine price increase" and "price hike" rise every time prices are revised. Price changes happen through the pricing policy and are shown in the index by an "effective from" date. Two practical points follow. First, a shop should sell existing stock at the price printed on it, not relabel it upward. Second, rumours of price rises cause panic buying and shortages; check the official index before believing a forwarded message. If a medicine becomes hard to find, see our shortage guide.
Comparing prices between brands
Many medicines are sold under several brand names with the same active ingredient. Search the generic name in the price tool to see registered brands and their prices. Ask your doctor or pharmacist before switching; for some medicines, such as those for epilepsy, thyroid or transplant patients, changing brand needs care.
Dawa ki qeemat kaise check kare
Dabbay par "MRP" ya "Retail Price" ke saath likhi qeemat dekhein. Dukandar is se zyada nahin le sakta. Sarkari qeemat dekhne ke liye hamare price check mein dawa ka naam likhein, apna pack size dhoondein aur qeemat milayein. Zyada paise maange jayein to raseed lein aur shikayat karein.
Price stickers, cut packs and other tricks
- A sticker over the printed price. Lift the corner and look. A higher price stuck over a lower printed one is not allowed.
- The price area cut off the carton. Ask for an intact pack. A missing price panel can hide the MRP, the batch or the expiry.
- "New rate" for old stock. A pack made before a price revision should be sold at the price printed on it.
- Charging per strip above the share. One strip of a 3-strip pack should cost about a third of the printed price.
- Rounding up. Small rounding is common in practice, but ask for a receipt that shows the amount.
Essential and low-price drugs
Every entry in DRAP's price index is marked as either "Essential Drugs" or "Low Price Drugs". Medicines on the National Essential Medicines List are those considered most important for the country's health needs, and their prices remain under government control. Low-price drugs are inexpensive products whose prices are also published. Medicines outside these groups may not appear in the index, but their printed price still binds the seller.
Paying a lot for a branded medicine? Many have cheaper registered equivalents: see how to find a cheaper brand of the same medicine. Essential medicines stay under price control; see the essential medicines list.
Questions people ask
What does MRP mean on medicine?
Maximum Retail Price. It is the highest price a retailer may charge for that pack, including taxes. It is printed on the carton, usually near the batch number and expiry date.
Can a pharmacy charge more than the printed price?
No. Charging above the printed retail price is not allowed. A pharmacy may charge less.
Why did the price of my medicine go up?
Prices are revised from time to time under the federal pricing policy, and since 2024 companies have had more freedom to set prices of medicines that are not on the national essential medicines list. Newer batches may therefore carry a higher printed price than the one you bought before.
Is a very cheap medicine a bargain?
Small discounts are normal. A branded medicine at a fraction of its printed price is a common sign of fake, expired or stolen stock.
What is the DRAP PharmaPrice Index?
DRAP's public price listing at e.dra.gov.pk/public/price, showing product, registration number, registration holder, category, pack size, price and effective date. Our price search uses a copy of it.
Medicine ka price kitna hai, kaise maloom karein?
Dabbay par chhapi MRP dekhein, ya hamare medicine price check mein dawa ka naam likh kar DRAP ki fehrist wali qeemat dekhein.
Is the price the same in every city?
The maximum retail price printed on the pack applies across Pakistan. Shops may sell for less but not more.
Why is my medicine not in the DRAP price list?
DRAP's published index covers products in its essential and low-price categories. Many other registered products are not listed. The price printed on the pack still applies.
